Program Requirements

The program curriculum emphasizes: (a) theory and research on social change; (b) developing, implementing, and evaluating prevention and intervention programs; (c) examining various forms of diversity, inequality and justice among individuals, institutions, communities, and societies; and (d) action-oriented research methods. Program coursework includes training in:

Community psychology

Social psychology

Innovation and technology

Translational science

Social and behavioral health

Inequality and social justice

Applied research methodology

Advanced statistical methods

Program development and evaluation

Specialty topics reflecting faculty expertise

Individual programs of study are tailored to the student’s research interests and career objectives. Students may supplement their psychological studies with interdisciplinary coursework in other areas such as public administration, economics, sociology, criminology, communication, design, and engineering. Students may also take courses at other area universities via the Inter-Institutional Registration Program, including Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

An overview of the curriculum requirements and sample 4-year plan can be found here:Curriculum Brochure.

The Psychology Department requires that all doctoral degree students complete nine semester hours of statistics and research design, a one-credit orientation and ethics course (PSY800), and three core courses on the biological, cognitive-affective, and/or social bases of behavior.

Departmental Core Courses

To satisfy the current distributional requirement, students are required to take 9 credit hours of core courses in total, spanning the two groups listed below. Two courses must be taken from one group and one course from the other. The student, with committee approval, selects the area of greater emphasis.

The two groups and their corresponding courses are:

Group A

PSY 500 - Visual Perception

PSY 502 - Physiological Psychology

PSY 508 - Cognitive Processes

PSY 744 - Human Information Processing

Group B

PSY 511 - Advanced Social Psychology

PSY 584 - Advanced Developmental Psychology

PSY 591 - History and Systems of Psychology

PSY 764 - Survey of I/O Psychology

Lifespan Developmental Core Courses: In addition to the general departmental requirements, all Developmental students must take the following core courses:

PSY 584 - Advanced Developmental Psychology

PSY 785 - Methodological Issues in Developmental Psychology

PSY 786 - Cognitive Development

PSY 787 - Social Development

PSY 788 - Adulthood and Aging: Cognitive and Intellectual Changes

PSY 789 - Social-emotional Processes in Adulthood and Aging

In addition to the above courses, most students in the Lifespan Developmental Psychology program also take advantage of the five course series in research design and applied statistics, all of which are taught by Lifespan Developmental area faculty. These courses are workshop-based, providing hands-on training in analyzing data using advanced statistical techniques such as Structural Equation Modeling, Latent Growth Curve Modeling, Hierarchical Linear Modeling.

Students are expected to attend and participate in the Lifespan Developmental Area Seminar (PSY820D), an informal series (held from 12:15-1:30 every other Wednesday) at which students and faculty meet to discuss ongoing research, development projects, and professional issues.

Our program is also one of the constituent members of the internationally renownedCenter for Developmental Science, and maintains ties to the UNC system-wide Institute on Aging. Students are encouraged to augment their training through participation in special seminars and research opportunities associated with each of these organizations.

All Human Factors and Applied Cognition doctoral students complete courses in statistics, ethics, research methods, cognition, perception, human factors, and inter-disciplinary studies in addition to various seminars. Courses outside of core requirements may be taken to meet university requirements or to satisfy individual educational needs upon approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee.

Students are expected to develop research skills through a first year research project, class research projects, thesis research, dissertation research, and additional research projects. Conference participation and publications are highly encouraged.

Students are also expected to apply research skills by working in industry, government, or other institutional settings either prior to or during their stay in the department. This may involve part-time placement during the academic year or summer, or be satisfied by previous work experience.

PSY 841 School Psychology Practicum (Extra practicum in student’s area of interest)

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*Other options are available. Consult the program director.

** The internship consists of a minimum of one academic year full time. At least 600 of the 1500 minimum clock hours must be completed in a school or educational setting. A student is permitted to begin the internship only after he/she has defended the dissertation proposal.